Scientists have found a new material capable of capturing and concentrating methane, an abundant greenhouse gas.
The material was discovered by scientists from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Using computer simulation, the team compared the effectiveness of methane capture in two separate materials, liquid solvents and nanoporous zeolites. The team found that the nanoporous zeolites were effective in absorbing methane.
Methane is the second most prominent type of greenhouse gas found on Earth. The first is carbon dioxide, which is able to be captured through a number of techniques. Methane, on the other hand, is more elusive, interacting weakly with outside materials.
"Methane capture poses a challenge that can only be addressed through extensive material screening and ingenious molecular-level designs," researcher Amitesh Maiti said.
A significant factor in climate change, methane is responsible for 30 percent of global warming. Concern over the gas has grown due to factors such as the possibility of heavy methane release from the Arctic due to melting ice, along with leaks caused by growing gas and oil extraction. Much of the depth of this concern stems from the fact that methane trumps carbon dioxide as a powerful greenhouse gas. According to researchers, just one percent of methane released from the Arctic could have the same global warming effect as all of the carbon dioxide that human activity has produced since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
The researchers hope that the discovery of the promising nature of methane absorption in nanoporous zeolites will lead to real world experimentation. For instance, the zeolites could be used to absorb low amounts of methane stemming from manure piles and coal mines.
The findings were published Tuesday April 16 in the journal Nature Communications.
